n  The only Red Dot for an automotive coating in this year’s competition

n  Coatings formulation is based on innovative polymer structure

n  The interplay of aesthetics, sustainability and functionality fascinates the Red Dot jury

The color ZENOMENON, designed by BASF's Coatings division, was the only automotive paint to be honored this year at the Red Dot Award: Product Design, one of the most prestigious design competitions in the world. The innovative technology and the special aesthetics of the coating have impressed the experts on the Red Dot jury in the "Materials and Surfaces" category.

ZENOMENON's coating formulation is based on polymer structures developed by the cooperation partner Cypris Materials from California. Instead of classic pigments, special polymer structures with a high proportion of renewable materials are used. This way, the color represents a more sustainable alternative in the area of surface aesthetics for automotive coatings. The result is a unique color effect that arises from self-assembled layered structures, reflecting light in the visible spectrum with a flop effect. This gives the surface of the paint layer a shimmering, strikingly iridescent shine. With a view to future mobility, these polymers are also suitable for LIDAR or radar sensor systems.

The Red Dot for the automotive color ZENOMENON has been presented to Ryan Pearson, Co-Founder and CEO Cypris Materials (left) and Mark Gutjahr, Global Head of Automotive Color Design for BASF (right) during the festive Designers’ Night at the Red Dot Design Museum.

“Being awarded a Red Dot in product design is a very special honor for us – especially as a chemical company. The award underlines our design and technology expertise – and the trust in innovative solutions that our customers in the automotive industry place in us," said Mark Gutjahr, global head of Automotive Color Design at BASF.

At the Red Dot Design Award, all submissions are assessed based on the four basic principles of good design: the quality of function, the quality of seduction, the quality of use and the quality of responsibility. “The development of ZENOMENON is remarkably future-oriented. In particular, the interplay of aesthetics, sustainability and functionality is fascinating”, said the independent Red Dot jury.

All award-winning products, including an exhibit painted with ZENOMENON, will be on display until May 2025 as part of the winners’ exhibition at the Red Dot Design Museum at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Zollverein in Essen, Germany.

ZENOMENON's coating formulation is based on polymer structures developed by the cooperation partner Cypris Materials from California.

The unique color effect arises from self-assembled layered structures, reflecting light in the visible spectrum with a flop effect.